1. Pick & Mix: Paris Introducing
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2. © Lonely Planet Publications
I NTRO DUCI N G PAR I S
Snap an iconic shot of the Eiffel Tower (p131)
Well informed, eloquent and oh-so-romantic, the
‘City of Light’ is a philosopher, a poet, a crooner. As it
always has been, Paris is a million different things to a
million different people.
Paris has all but exhausted the superlatives that can reasonably be applied to any city. Notre Dame
and the Eiffel Tower – at sunrise, at sunset, at night – have been described countless times, as
have the Seine and the subtle (and not-so-subtle) differences between the Left and Right Banks.
But what writers have been unable to capture is the grandness and even the magic.
Paris probably has more familiar landmarks than any other city in the world. As a result,
first-time visitors often arrive in the French capital with all sorts of expectations: of grand vistas,
of intellectuals discussing weighty matters in cafés, of romance along the Seine, of naughty
nightclub revues, of rude people who won’t speak English. If you look hard enough, you can
probably find all of those. But another approach is to set aside the preconceptions of Paris and
to explore the city’s avenues and backstreets as if the tip of the Eiffel Tower or the spire of Notre
Dame wasn’t about to pop into view at any moment.
You’ll soon discover (as so many others before you have) that Paris is enchanting almost
everywhere, at any time, even ‘in the summer, when it sizzles’ and ‘in the winter, when it driz-
zles’, as Cole Porter put it. And you’ll be back. Trust us.
2

3. PARIS LIFE 40th anniversary of May
In the build-up to the
1968, the month and year that rocked Paris ‘the infinitely successful
and the world, it was fitting that the French
capital was once again visited by strikes, riots Paris Plage just keeps
and protests and the slogan, 'Sous les pavés,
la plage' (Under the cobblestones, the beach).
on a-growin’ and is now
But while your average Parisian enjoys nothing
(well almost nothing) better than a good râle
called Paris Plages’
(a moan or a whinge) the city is a different –
almost unrecognisable – place four decades on. The transport strike? Sorted. Everyone just jumped
on the closest Vélib’ cycle, having learned how sweet was a seat on a bicycle built for 2.2 million.
And a return to 2005-style riots in the banlieue (suburbs) after two youths on a motorbike died
in a crash with a police patrol car? Neighbourhoods did burn, baby, but for days, not weeks. The
mass demonstrations expected after President Nicolas Sarkozy announced his overhaul of the
crumbling university system in 2007 never happened. And what about that ‘beach’? Well, the
infinitely successful Paris Plage just keeps on a-growin’ and is now called Paris Plages.
Most of the reforms (but not the popular ban on smoking in public places) were the work of
Mayor Bernard Delanoë – according to the polls France’s most popular politician – who beat
his Sarkozy-backed opponent in the March 2008 municipal election. Delanoë is hard-working,
capable, modest and earnest. He gets on with business while President Bling-Bling (p33) entertains
(in spite of himself). From hobnobbing with the rich and famous to – sacré bleu! – holidaying in
the USA, the mercurial right-wing son of an immigrant from Budapest kept left-wing Parisians
shocked, stunned and maybe even a little amused. Then along came Carla Bruni – supermodel,
folk singer, public undresser and now Madame Sarkozy. With his popularity in the polls at the
lowest ever recorded by a président de la république, Sarko crossed the Channel to fly the flag
and his trophy wife. Les rosbifs fell in love with La Carla at first sight. ‘Je Thames’ gushed the
Sun in a headline that has begged to be written since Waterloo. Touché!
Typical Parisian café life (p226)
3

4. © Lonely Planet Publications
G E T TI N G STAR TE D
Paris is a dream destination for countless reasons, but among the most obvious is that it requires
so very little advance planning. Tourist literature abounds, maps are excellent and readily avail-
able, and the staff at tourist offices are usually helpful and efficient. Paris is so well developed
and organised that you don’t have to plan much of anything before your trip.
But this is fine only if your budget is unlimited, you don’t have an interest in any particular
period of architecture or type of music, and you’ll eat or drink anything put down in front of
you. This is Paris, one of the most visited cities of the world, and everyone wants a piece of
the action. First and foremost, book your accommodation well ahead. And if you have specific
interests – live big-name jazz, blockbuster art exhibitions, top-end restaurants – you’ll certainly
GETTING STARTED WHEN TO GO
want to make sure that the things you expect to see and do will be available or open to you when
you arrive. The key here is advance planning (see p17).
WHEN TO GO
As the old song says, Paris is lovely in spring-
and leave town too. It’s true that you will
find more places open in August than even
a decade ago, but it still can feel like a ghost
time – though winterlike relapses and heavy town in certain districts. For more informa-
rains are not uncommon in the otherwise tion on Paris’ climate, see p397.
beautiful month of April. The best months To ensure that your trip does (or perhaps
are probably May and June – but early, be- does not) coincide with a public holiday, see
fore the hordes of tourists descend. Autumn p401. For a list of festivals and other events to
is also pleasant – some people say the best plan around, see below.
months of the year to visit are September and
October – but of course the days are getting
shorter and in October hotels are booked FESTIVALS EVENTS
solid by businesspeople attending confer- Innumerable festivals, cultural and sporting
ences and trade shows. In winter Paris has events and trade shows take place in Paris
all sorts of cultural events going on, while in throughout the year; weekly details appear
summer the weather is warm – sometimes in Pariscope and L’Officiel des Spectacles (p302).
sizzling. In any case, in August Parisians flee You can also find them listed under ‘What’s
for the beaches to the west and south, and On’ on the website of the Paris Convention Visitors
many restaurateurs and café owners lock up Bureau (www.parisinfo.com). The following abbrevi-
ated list gives you a taste of what to expect
throughout the year.
DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT…
an adaptor plug for electrical appliances January February
binoculars for viewing detail on churches and FESTIVAL DES MUSIQUES DU
other buildings NOVEL AN
an immersion water heater or small kettle for an www.parisparade.com
impromptu cup of tea or coffee The New Year Music Festival, relatively
tea bags if you need that cuppa since the French subdued after the previous night’s she-
drink buckets of the herbal variety but not much nanigans (p15) with marching and carnival
of the black stuff bands, dance acts and so on, takes place
premoistened towelettes or a large cotton on the afternoon of New Year’s Day at the
handkerchief to soak in fountains and use to cool Palais de Chaillot (p131) at Trocadéro.
off in the hot weather
sunglasses and sun block, even in the cooler
months LOUIS XVI COMMEMORATIVE MASS
swimsuit and thongs (flip-flops) for Paris Plages www.monuments-nationaux.fr
or swimming pool On the Sunday closest to 21 January, royal-
a Swiss Army knife, with such essentials as a ists and right-wingers attend a mass at the
bottle opener and strong corkscrew Chapelle Expiatoire (p142 marking the execu-
tion by guillotine of King Louis XVI in 1793.
12

5. FASHION WEEK (metro Porte Dorée) for eight weeks from
lonelyplanet.com
www.pretparis.com late March to mid-May.
Prêt-à-Porter, the ready-to-wear fashion
salon that is held twice a year in late Janu- MARATHON INTERNATIONAL DE
ary and again in September, is a must for PARIS
fashion buffs and is held at the Parc des www.parismarathon.com
Expositions at Porte de Versailles in the 15e The Paris International Marathon, usually
arrondissement (metro Porte de Versailles), held on the first Sunday of early April, starts
southwest of the city centre. on the av des Champs-Élysées, 8e, and
finishes on av Foch, in the 16e. The Semi-
CHINESE NEW YEAR Marathon de Paris is a half-marathon held in
www.paris.fr early March; see the website for map and
Dragon parades and other festivities are registration details.
GETTING STARTED WHEN TO GO
held in late January or early February in
two Chinatowns: the smaller, more authen- FOIRE DE PARIS
tic one in the 3e, taking in rue du Temple, www.foiredeparis.fr
rue au Maire and rue de Turbigo (metro This huge modern-living fair, including
Temple or Arts et Métiers); and the larger, crafts, gadgets and widgets, and food and
flashier one in the 13e in between porte wine, is held from late April to early May at
de Choisy, porte d’Ivry and blvd Masséna the Parc des Expositions at Porte de Ver-
(metro Porte de Choisy, Port d’Ivry or sailles in the 15e (metro Porte de Versailles).
Tolbiac).
ATELIERS D’ARTISTES DE BELLE-
SALON INTERNATIONAL DE VILLE: LES PORTES OUVERTES
L’AGRICULTURE www.ateliers-artistes-belleville.org, in French
www.salon-agriculture.com More than 200 painters, sculptors and other
A 10-day international agricultural fair with artists in Belleville (metro Belleville) in the
produce and animals turned into dishes 10e open their studio doors to visitors over
from all over France, held at the Parc des four days (Friday to Monday) in mid-May in
Expositions at Porte de Versailles in the 15e an event that has now been going for two
(metro Porte de Versailles) from late Febru- decades.
ary to early March.
LA NUIT DES MUSÉES
March–May www.nuitdesmusees.culture.fr, in French
BANLIEUES BLEUES Key museums across Paris throw open
their doors at 6pm for one Saturday night
www.banlieuesbleues.org, in French
in mid-May on ‘Museums Night’ and don’t
The ‘Suburban Blues’ jazz and blues festival
close till late. Some also organise special
is held over five weeks in March and April
events.
in the northern suburbs of Paris, including
St-Denis (p182), and attracts some big-name
talent. FRENCH TENNIS OPEN
www.rolandgarros.com
PRINTEMPS DU CINÉMA The glitzy Internationaux de France de
Tennis – the Grand Slam – takes place from
www.printempsducinema.com, in French
late May to mid-June at Stade Roland Gar-
Cinemas across Paris offer filmgoers a
ros (metro Porte d’Auteuil) at the southern
unique entry fee of €3.50 over three days
edge of the Bois de Boulogne in the 16e.
(usually Sunday, Monday and Tuesday)
sometime around 21 March.
FOIRE DU TRÔNE June–August
www.foiredutrone.com, in French FOIRE ST-GERMAIN
This huge funfair, with 350 attractions www.foiresaintgermain.org, in French
spread over 10 hectares, is held on the This month-long festival of concerts and
pelouse de Reuilly of the Bois de Vincennes theatre from early June to early July takes
place on the place St-Sulpice, 6e (metro
13

6. lonelyplanet.com
St-Sulpice) and various other venues (see PARIS PLAGES
website) in the quartier St-Germain. www.paris.fr
Initiated in 2002, ‘Paris Beaches’ is one
FÊTE DE LA MUSIQUE of the most inspired and successful city
www.fetedelamusique.fr, in French recreational events in the world. Across
This national music festival welcomes in four weeks, from mid-July to mid-August,
summer on Midsummer’s Night (21 June) three waterfront areas are transformed
and caters to a great diversity of tastes into sand and pebble ‘beaches’, complete
(including jazz, reggae and classical) and with sun beds, beach umbrellas, atomisers,
features staged and impromptu live per- lounge chairs and palm trees. They make
formances all over the city. up the 3km-long stretch along the Right
Bank embankment from the quai Henri IV
GAY PRIDE MARCH at the Pont de Sully (metro Sully Morland)
in the 4e to the quai des Tuileries (metro
GETTING STARTED WHEN TO GO
www.gaypride.fr, in French
Tuileries) below the Louvre in the 1er; a
This colourful Saturday-afternoon parade
1km-long ‘beach’ below the Bibliothèque
in very late June through the Marais to
Nationale de France and across from
Bastille celebrates Gay Pride Day, with
the Parc de Bercy in the 13e on the Left
various bars and clubs sponsoring floats,
Bank; and the area around the Bassin de
and participants in some pretty outrageous
la Villette in the 19e (metro Jaurès). The
costumes.
beaches are open from 8am to midnight
daily.
PARIS JAZZ FESTIVAL
www.parcfloraldeparis.com; www.paris.fr TOUR DE FRANCE
There are free jazz concerts every Saturday
and Sunday afternoon in June and July in
www.letour.fr
The last of 21 stages of this prestigious,
the Parc Floral de Paris (metro Château de
3500km-long cycling event finishes with a
Vincennes).
race up av des Champs-Élysées on the third
or fourth Sunday of July, as it has done
LA GOUTTE D’OR EN FÊTE since 1975.
www.gouttedorenfete.org, in French
This week-long world-music festival (featur-
ing rai, reggae and rap) is held at square September October
Léon, 18e (metro Barbès Rochechouart or JAZZ À LA VILLETTE
Château Rouge) from late June to early July. www.villette.com, in French
This super 10-day jazz festival in early Sep-
PARIS CINÉMA tember has sessions in Parc de la Villette, at
www.pariscinema.org the Cité de la Musique and in surrounding
This two-week festival in the first half of bars.
July sees rare and restored films screened
in selected cinemas across Paris. FESTIVAL D’AUTOMNE
www.festival-automne.com
BASTILLE DAY (14 JULY) The Autumn Festival of arts has paint-
www.paris.fr ing, music, dance and theatre at venues
Paris is the place to be on France’s national throughout the city from mid-September to
day. Late on the night of the 13th, bals des mid-December.
sapeurs-pompiers (dances sponsored by
Paris’ firefighters, who are considered sex EUROPEAN HERITAGE DAYS
symbols in France) are held at fire stations www.journeesdupatrimoine.culture.fr, in French
around the city. At 10am on the 14th, As elsewhere in Europe on the third week-
there’s a military and fire-brigade parade end in September, Paris opens the doors
along av des Champs-Élysées, accompanied to buildings (eg embassies, government
by a fly-past of fighter aircraft and helicop- ministries, corporate offices – even the
ters. In the evening, a huge display of feux Palais de l’Élysée) normally off-limits to
d’artifice (fireworks) is held at around 11pm outsiders.
on the Champ de Mars, 7e.
14

7. TECHNOPARADE
lonelyplanet.com
www.technopol.net, in French
Part of the annual festival called Rendez-
vous Électroniques (Electronic Meeting),
this parade involving some 20 floats and
carrying 150 musicians and DJs wends its UNUSUAL EVENTS
way on the periphery of the Marais on the Paris Plages (opposite) – the next best thing to
third Saturday of September, starting and the seaside along France’s smallest urban beaches
ending at place de la Bastille, 12e. Gay Pride March (opposite) – feathers and beads
and participants in and out of same
NUIT BLANCHE Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre (left) –
www.paris.fr lots of noise for a bunch of old (and some say sour)
‘White Night’ (or more accurately ‘All grapes
Louis XVI Commemorative Mass (p12) –
GETTING STARTED COSTS MONEY
Nighter’) is when Paris ‘does’ New York
and becomes ‘the city that doesn’t sleep right-wing sob-fest for aristocrats, pretenders and
at all’. It’s a cultural festival that lasts from hangers-on
sundown until sunrise on the first Saturday Salon Internationale de l’Agriculture (p13) –
and Sunday of October, with museums and lots to smell (cowpats) and hear (braying donkeys)
recreational facilities in town joining bars and see (lambs gambolling) and eat and drink at
and clubs and staying open till the very Europe’s largest agricultural fair
wee hours.
national Showjumping Competition forms
FÊTE DES VENDANGES DE part of the Salon du Cheval at the Parc des
MONTMARTRE Expositions at Porte de Versailles in the 15e
www.fetedesvendangesdemontmartre.com, in (metro Porte de Versailles).
French
This festival is held over the second week- CHRISTMAS EVE MASS
end in October following the harvesting of Mass is celebrated at midnight on Christ-
grapes from the Close du Montmartre (p185), mas Eve at many Paris churches, including
with costumes, speeches and a parade. Notre Dame, but get there by 11pm to find
a place.
FOIRE INTERNATIONALE D’ART
CONTEMPORAIN NEW YEAR’S EVE
www.fiacparis.com Blvd St-Michel (5e), place de la Bastille
Better known as FIAC, this huge contempo- (11e), the Eiffel Tower (7e) and especially av
rary art fair is held over five days in late Oc- des Champs-Élysées (8e) are the places to
tober, with some 160 galleries represented be to welcome in the New Year.
at the Louvre and the Grand Palais.
November December COSTSinhostel or in a showerless, toi-
If you stay a
MONEY
AFRICOLOR
letless room in a bottom-end hotel and have
www.africolor.com, in French
picnics rather than dining out, it is possible
This African music festival is held for the
to stay in Paris for €50 a day per person. A
most part in venues in the suburbs sur-
couple staying in a two-star hotel and eating
rounding Paris from late November to late
one cheap restaurant meal each day should
December.
count on spending at least €75 a day per per-
son. Eating out frequently, ordering wine and
JUMPING INTERNATIONAL DE PARIS treating yourself to any of the many luxuries
www.salon-cheval.com, in French on offer in Paris will increase these figures
This annual showjumping tournament considerably.
features the world’s most celebrated jump- If greater Paris were a country, its economy
ers at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy would rank as one of the world’s largest (in
in the 12e arrondissement (metro Bercy) in fact, placing at No 17). The 617,000 compa-
the first half of December. The annual Inter- nies employing just over five million people in
15

8. lonelyplanet.com
Île de France contribute to the region’s €415 staff and did not allow young people to build
billion GDP, which accounts for upwards of a careers. The French government decided to
third of the total for all of France. The service withdraw the CPE altogether later in 2006.
industries employ the most people – almost To a certain extent the government’s ability
82% of the workforce, of which 4% are in to boost employment through training and aid
tourism. Not surprisingly, only 0.5% of Paris- is crimped: it simply doesn’t have the money.
ians are involved in the primary industries of First and foremost is the need to reduce debt,
agriculture, forestry or fishing. which stood at almost 67% of GDP in 2007.
Manufacturers – software developers, elec- The country was also in danger of breaching
tronic industries, pharmaceuticals, publishers – EU rules regulating national debt – again – if
employ about 18% of the workforce. As most it didn’t cut its spending. The national public
industry is located outside the Périphérique deficit was expected to rise to over 3% of GDP
(p51), about the only factories you’re likely to in 2008, which is above the EU limit.
see during your visit are those lining the high- To fill the national coffers, France has
GETTING STARTED INTERNET RESOURCES
way from Charles de Gaulle airport. As a re- raised billions of euros by selling stakes in
sult, 50% of Parisians commute out of – rather state-owned companies. In late 2007 and early
than into – the city every day to work. 2008 it sold a stake of 2.5% in the power com-
That is, those who have a job to commute pany Électricité de France and one of 3.3% in
to do. Unemployment is currently at a low of Aéroports de Paris, the company that man-
around 7.5% nationally, and the jobless rate ages Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports. It’s
for Paris is about half that figure. However, not the first time that the government has
for youths living in the dire housing estates flogged the family silver.
surrounding the city, the figure reaches more
than 20%, one of the reasons that the banlieues
(suburbs) erupted into violence at the end of
2005 (p30). Bids by the previous government to INTERNET RESOURCES
Wi-fi is widely available at midrange and top-
reduce the number of jobless youth through
its controversial CPE plan (p30) were stymied end hotels in Paris (sometimes for free but
early the following year when a million work- more usually for something like €5 per one-off
ers and students took to the streets in protest. connection) and occasionally in public spaces
They argued that the law, which would allow such as train stations and tourist offices. For
companies with more than 20 employees to a list of almost 100 free-access wi-fi cafés in
fire workers under 26 within the first two Paris, visit www.cafes-wifi.com (in French).
years of employment with no severance pay, If you don’t have a laptop or wi-fi access,
encouraged a regular turnover of cut-rate don’t fret: Paris is awash with internet cafés
with their own computers, and you’ll prob-
ably find at least one in your immediate
neighbourhood.
HOW MUCH? In terms of websites to consult before you
An hour’s car parking: from €1 (street), €2.40 go, Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com) is a good
(garage) start for many of the city’s more useful links.
Average fair/good seat at the opera: €40/60 The following English-language websites are
useful when wanting learn more about Paris
Cinema ticket: €5.90 to €9.90 (adult) (and France).
Copy of Le Monde newspaper: €1.30 Expatica (www.expatica.com) Lifestyle website for inter-
Coffee at a café bar: from €1.20 nationals living in countries worldwide, including France,
Grand crème at Champs-Élysées café terrace: €4.50 with regularly updated news, features and blogs.
Metro/bus ticket: €1.50 (€10 for 10) French Government Tourism Office (www.francetourism
.com) Official tourism site with all manner of information
Entry to the Louvre: €9 (adult) on and about travel in France, with lots and lots on Paris
Litre of bottled mineral water: from €0.70 (super- too.
market), €1 (corner shop)
Go Go Paris! Culture! (www.gogoparis.com) Clubs,
Pint of local beer: from €6.50 (€5 at happy hour) hangouts, art gigs, dance around town, eat and drink –
Pop music CD: €13 to €18 everything a culture vulture living in Paris needs.
Street snack: from €2.50 (basic crêpe or galette) Mairie de Paris (www.paris.fr) Your primary source of
information about Paris, with everything from opening
16

9. © Lonely Planet Publications
lonelyplanet.com
ADVANCE PLANNING
A couple of months before you go Try to book your accommodation months ahead, especially if it’s high season and
you want to stay in a boutique hotel like the Hôtel Caron de Beaumarchais (p339), a ‘find’ such as the Hôtel Jeanne
d’Arc (p340) or some place offering exceptional value for money like the Hôtel du Champ-du-Mars (p351). Take a look
at some of the ‘what’s on’ websites listed on opposite or the entertainment magazines Pariscope and L’Officiel des
Spectacles (p302).
A month before you go If you’re interested in serious fine dining at places like Le Grand Véfour (p232) or the Casa
Olympe (p264) and there’s more than one of you, book a table now. Now is also the time to visit the Fnac and/or
Virgin Megastore websites (p302) to get seats for a big-ticket concert, musical or play.
Two weeks before you go Blockbuster exhibitions at venues such as the Grand Palais (p139) or Centre Pompidou
(p88) – or even a visit to the Louvre (p80) – can be booked in advance via Fnac or Virgin Megastore for a modest fee.
GETTING STARTED INTERNET RESOURCES
Sign up for an email newsletter via Expatica (opposite) and read some up-to-date blogs.
A day or two before you go Make sure your bookings are in order and you’ve followed all the instructions outlined
in this chapter.
times and what’s on to the latest statistics direct from the France’s most widely read and watched (this
Hôtel de Ville. serial entrepreneur vid-blogs like mad at www
Paris Convention Visitors Bureau (www.parisinfo.com) .loic.tv) – considerately blogs a best-of-blog
The official site of the Office de Tourisme et de Congrès – list at www.eu.socialtext.net/loicwiki/index.
the city’s tourist office – is super, with more links than cgi?french_blogosphere.
you’ll ever need. For clubbing, music and nightlife links see
p302. Blogroll to tune into politics, fashion/
Paris Digest (www.parisdigest.com) Useful site for making kitchen gossip, happenings and bags more in
pretravel arrangements and for its forum. the capital (in English):
Paris Pages (www.paris.org) Has good links to museums Chocolate Zucchini (http://chocolateandzucchini.com)
and cultural events. Food-driven blog by a 28-year-old foodie called Clotilde
Paris Woman (www.pariswoman.com) Deals with news from Montmartre.
and issues and events affecting expatriate women in Paris. Le Blageur à Paris (www.parisblagueur.blogspot.com)
RATP (www.ratp.com) This invaluable (and easy to use) On-the-ball, engaging and inspirational snapshots of
website from the city’s transport network will help you Parisian life from one of the city’s most enigmatic bloggers,
negotiate your way around town. a 32-year-old French fille called Meg Zimbeck.
Paris Daily Photo (www.parisdailyphoto.com) An image
a day with detailed comment, enjoyed by 2000-odd a day,
BLOGS from friendly Eric in the 9e arrondissement.
If there’s one country in Europe where blog-
Petite Brigitte (http://petitebrigitte.com) ‘Inside Paris:
ging is a national pastime (so that’s what
Gossip, News, Fashion’ with a savvy Parisian gal in St-
they do outside their 35-hour work week) it’s
Germain des Prés.
France. The underbelly of what French people
think right now, the French blogosphere is Secrets of Paris (www.secretsofparis.com) OK, OK, she
gargantuan, with everyone and everything writes for lots of our competitors but this site is a great
from streets and metro stops to bands, bars resource, full of venue recommendations, lots of great
and the president having their own blog. For bar/nightlife info.
an informative overview (did someone say The Paris Blog (www.theparisblog.com) Insightful portrait
three million bloggers in France and count- of Parisian life by a blogger collective.
ing?) see LeMondeduBlog.com (www.lemondedublog.com
Voice of a City (www.voiceofacity.com) Eurostar-vetted
in English French). Parisian star du blog Loïc Le Meur
voices blog about their Paris.
(www.loiclemeur.com in English French) – one of
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10. © Lonely Planet Publications
TH E AUTH O R S
Steve Fallon
Steve, who has LONELY PLANET AUTHORS
worked on every Why is our travel information the best in the world?
edition of Paris and It’s simple: our authors are passionate, dedicated
France except the travellers. They don’t take freebies in exchange for
first, visited the ‘City positive coverage so you can be sure the advice you’re
of Light’ for the first given is impartial. They travel widely to all the popu-
time at age 16 with lar spots, and off the beaten track. They don’t research
his half-French best using just the internet or phone. They discover new
friend, where they places not included in any other guidebook. They per-
spent a week drink- sonally visit thousands of hotels, restaurants, palaces,
ing vin ordinaire trails, galleries, temples and more. They speak with
from plastic bottles, keeping several paces dozens of locals every day to make sure you get the
ahead of irate café waiters demanding to be kind of insider knowledge only a local could tell you.
paid, and learning French swear words that They take pride in getting all the details right, and in
shocked even them. Despite this inexcusable telling it how it is. Think you can do it? Find out how
behaviour, the PAF (border police) let him at lonelyplanet.com.
back in five years later to complete a degree
in French at the Sorbonne. Now based in East
London, Steve will be just one Underground also cowrote the Neighbourhoods, Shopping,
stop away from Paris when Eurostar trains Eating, Drinking and Nightlife the Arts
begin departing from Stratford in 2010. C’est si chapters.
bon… Steve was the coordinating author and
wrote the Introducing Paris, Getting Started,
Background, Sleeping, Gay Lesbian Paris PHOTOGRAPHER
and Directory chapters. He also cowrote the
Neighbourhoods, Shopping, Eating, Drinking
Will Salter
In the last 12 years, Will has worked on as-
and Nightlife the Arts chapters. signment in over 50 countries in Africa, Asia,
Europe, and the Pacific region as well as Ant-
Nicola Williams arctica. He has produced a body of award-
winning work that includes evocative images
For Nicola, a British
journalist living and of travel, portraits and sport. He sees pho-
working in France tography as a privilege, a rare opportunity to
for the past 12 years become intimately involved in people’s lives.
(home is a hillside Will is based in Melbourne, Australia, with
house with Lake Ge- his wife and two children. His website is www
neva view in Haute .willsalter.com.
Savoie), it is an easy
flit to Paris where
she has spent endless
amounts of time eat-
ing her way around and revelling in the city’s
extraordinary art and architecture. When
she’s not working for Lonely Planet, she can
be found in the Alps skiing or hiking, strolling
around Florence or having fun with family in
Britain and Germany. Nicola has worked on
numerous other Lonely Planet titles includ-
ing France, Provence the Côte d’Azur and
The Loire. Nicola wrote the Sports Activi-
ties, Excursions and Transport chapters. She
11

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